Measure your waist: Stand in front of a mirror and identify the narrowest part of your torso, usually around the same level as your belly button. Using a soft tape measure, circle it around your abdomen. Stand up straight, and exhale gently as you pull the tape so that it stays taut against your body, but make sure it is not squeezing into your skin. Look at the number at the point where the zero end of the tape intersects around your waist. This is your waist measurement. A waist size of greater than 40 inches, or 102 centimeters for men, and a waist size of greater than 35 inches, or 88 centimeters for women, is considered high risk. A high number may indicate that you have excess fat in your abdominal area.
